I love all these records below, but I have problems with them from a production-aural space kind of way...

<<edit: I know I am being DAMN picky, as all of these albums are brilliant.. but I got some problems with 'em, so hear me out..>>

Thermos: Bailter Space
(Weak drum sound, wizzly bass sound, weird overall)

Loveless: MBV
Isn't Anything: MBV
(why did MBV compress and squash the daylights out of their recorded music and use bad alesis-sounding drum samples??)

Extricate: The Fall
(glossy, 80's style Wang Chung style production..)

Jeopardy: The Sound
(terrible drum sound)

Shot: Jesus Lizard
(Sounds like a "made for 90's alt radio" recording..)

Zen Arcade: Husker Du
(clear as mud)

I'm torn on the Comsat Angels: Sleep No More
The drums are cavernous, and the sheen and mood from the reverberation and delay that is all over the album make the songs very cold and wet. This works on some songs, and makes others sound muddy. In some ways the Peel Session recordings of the songs are better because they are more clear, angular and less "pre-goth" so to speak.

In a similar way, I am torn a great deal of the Birthday Party discography- (wasn't this recorded by the same guy that did Sleep No More?) They are so cavernous and room-sound that some of the individual unique aspects of the talent in the band is lost (Roland Howard, for example..) although I love the bass sound...

I know this isn't going to be a popular one on this board, but I'm not too stoked on the Shellac recording on At Action Park. These are some of Shellac's best songs, but I don't like the drum sound or the bass sound (when compared to Terraform, for example). Too much cold room sound, no intimacy. Bass drum sounds like a cardboard box being whacked with a wooden beater (sorry Todd..). Bass guitar bothers me. I'm torn though, I dig the songs. I often wish the production of the other records or singles were also on At Action Park, but they aren't.. Oh well. Still, a great listen.

This doesn't make any sense.
Great records include everything, even the shitty recording.
I hate when bands go ahead and rerecord their earlier shit with better production.

Redline wrote:

The ROIR Bad Brains tape.

steve wrote:

Fool that tape sounds awesome.

Maybe in a "caught the vibe" way, but not in a "sounds good" way.

I'm sure it sounded great screaming out of a crappy ghetto blaster while skateboarding, but I had already hung up my Bahne by then.

I will agree that the re-recording of some of the same material was dismal, but better sounding.

It's still my favorite Bad Brains moment. I just wish it was recorded better.

Worst:

Husker Du, LAND SPEED RECORD
Jesus Lizard, PURE (great songs, though)
Stooges, RAW POWER
Side 2 of SONGS ABOUT FUCKING (mars the brilliance of side 1)
Fugazi, MARGIN WALKER E.P.
Black Flag, DAMAGED
Lightning Bolt, YELLOW RECORD
Butthole Surfers, PSYCHIC, POWERLESS... (again, great songs, though)

The only thing that ever really gets on my nerves is when you can't hear the rhythm section (i.e. the Butthole Surfers' early live EP) or one of the two guitars is drowned out (i.e. SONGS ABOUT FUCKING's side 2) or some other travesty occurs. Usually I don't mind crappy production, and sometimes it even makes an album great (i.e. the Dicks' immortal live album).

coceng wrote:Great record... terrible recording :

ALL major label albums by Dinasour Jr. !!!!!!!!!!

Too FUCKING radio-friendly.

hmmm...the only one I really dislike is Green Mind.

dead kennedys bedtime for democracy... i think it is safe to say that they were never ones for the hi fi types...or 100,000 recording budgets...the record is my least favorite

nevermind...

though i really like fugazi, sometimes early on i wish somethings were different but i am sure they did not have 100,000 to spend as well...


i can't think of too much history i would want to change or music with that kinda budget i really listen to...

i thought the breaders pod was amazing, and last splash, well not my bag...

and justice for all is a feat all of its own but st. anger, people, people, people! that is also a terrible record...shit i am all over the place

shutting up now.

editted cause i am a dumbass most of the time

m.koren wrote:Here's some goodies but baddies: first Slint album (sorry Steve)

Totally disagree - better record and better recording than Spiderland. Anyone who heard that record when it came out (on Jennifer Hartman) was completely floored by how bizarre the music was as well as how strange (i.e. good) it sounded.

NerblyBear wrote:Worst:

Husker Du, LAND SPEED RECORD
Jesus Lizard, PURE (great songs, though)
Stooges, RAW POWER
Side 2 of SONGS ABOUT FUCKING (mars the brilliance of side 1)
Black Flag, DAMAGED

I can hardly imagine these records being better recorded.Maybe a little bit.
But certainly not with a $100.000 production , or wrapped with ribbons and flowers as somebody said.
Greg Norton has said something like:"all of this is to make noise:why reduce it?"
On the other hand , most pop bands need a clean sound ,I guess.
Like Butterglory:crumble. It's a great record , but it would have sound better with a cleaner sound.

On the other hand , most pop bands need a clean sound ,I guess.

How come?

newberry wrote:

On the other hand , most pop bands need a clean sound ,I guess.

How come?

To fit with the music mood.